January 29, 2007
I reporting to work late in the afternoon today because I had to pass by Ateneo first to pick up some documents I had requested/ordered from the registrar (80 pesos for a flimsy sheet of paper with the Ateneo seal, geez). I dropped by the CS department before heading to the office to deliver a package: my donation to the Pamana Fund.
It's not a mind-boggling amount by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel that my contribution was fairly significant. When you're contributing to a good cause, any amount given feels like a whole fortune, especially when you factor in the warm-and-fuzzy feelings into the equation.
Seriously though, I owe a lot to our department (and to Doc Mana) for much of the experience that has shaped me into what I am today. I feel more like I'm giving back what I owe rather than just sharing what I can afford. I chatted a bit with Dr. Rodrigo and we discussed the declining Ateneo CS/MIS population, and the waning interest in ICTs in the Philppines in general. I'm hoping that my tiny contribution can help stem the tide. I'm not sure how, but I trust that the capable people at DISCS will find a way.
It's not a mind-boggling amount by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel that my contribution was fairly significant. When you're contributing to a good cause, any amount given feels like a whole fortune, especially when you factor in the warm-and-fuzzy feelings into the equation.
Seriously though, I owe a lot to our department (and to Doc Mana) for much of the experience that has shaped me into what I am today. I feel more like I'm giving back what I owe rather than just sharing what I can afford. I chatted a bit with Dr. Rodrigo and we discussed the declining Ateneo CS/MIS population, and the waning interest in ICTs in the Philppines in general. I'm hoping that my tiny contribution can help stem the tide. I'm not sure how, but I trust that the capable people at DISCS will find a way.
September 21, 2006
Our beloved Dr. Pablo Manalastas has started his own blog, wittily titled "AmboSpeak". (We students know him is "Doc Mana" but "Ambo" is his personal nickname.)
Doc Mana is one of the most colorful characters I have met in my life, and I mean that in an entirely positive way. I don't know a lot of people who're as passionate about his/her personal interests as Doc Mana is (especially at his age!), of which there are many: Linux, open source, mind-twisting higher-order math, extreme vegetarianism, his family, problem solving, the ACM-ICPC (he was our coach who led as to two straight World Finals appearances), and the personal lives of his students. He may seem a bit nosy to some and perverted with his jokes, but we all know he means well and he genuinely cares about his students. He has interesting opinions about many things and personally, I'm glad he started his own blog so that he can share to the whole world about his opinions.
I'm sure that a lot of people will be deeply saddened when he retires in 2007. The DISCS faculty will lose the services of the one-of-a-kind PMana. Like Miguel commented on Dr. Rodrigo's blog entry, it indeed will be the end of an era. But by staying tuned to Doc Mana's blog, we can let him know that we still can't get enough of him.
Welcome to the blogosphere, Doc!
Doc Mana is one of the most colorful characters I have met in my life, and I mean that in an entirely positive way. I don't know a lot of people who're as passionate about his/her personal interests as Doc Mana is (especially at his age!), of which there are many: Linux, open source, mind-twisting higher-order math, extreme vegetarianism, his family, problem solving, the ACM-ICPC (he was our coach who led as to two straight World Finals appearances), and the personal lives of his students. He may seem a bit nosy to some and perverted with his jokes, but we all know he means well and he genuinely cares about his students. He has interesting opinions about many things and personally, I'm glad he started his own blog so that he can share to the whole world about his opinions.
I'm sure that a lot of people will be deeply saddened when he retires in 2007. The DISCS faculty will lose the services of the one-of-a-kind PMana. Like Miguel commented on Dr. Rodrigo's blog entry, it indeed will be the end of an era. But by staying tuned to Doc Mana's blog, we can let him know that we still can't get enough of him.
Welcome to the blogosphere, Doc!
